The Man With the Golden Voice

Manna Dey 

Born: May 1, 1919
Profession: Singer, Kolkata
Died: October 24, 2013
Wife: Sulochana Kumaran
Children: Shuroma and Sumita Dey

It took Manna Dey 12 hours to record the legendary 'Ek Chatur Naar' from the movie Padosan.
Music director Madan Mohan, who was a very good cook, bribed Manna Dey with bhindi meat to make him sing one of his composition, 'Kaun Aaya Mere Mann Dware' in 'Dekh Kabir Roya' (1957).
While working independently as a music director for various Hindi movies, Manna Dey continued to take musical lessons in Hindustani classical music from Ustad Aman Ali Khan and Ustad Abdul Rahman Khan.
Manna Dey won the Padma Shri in 1971, the Padma Bhushan in 2005 and the Dadsaheb Palke Award in 2007.
He sang around 1262 songs in Bengali, 35 songs in Bhojpuri, 13 songs in Punjabi, 6 songs in Assamese, 7 songs in Oriya language, 85 songs in Gujrati, 70 songs in Marathi, 5 songs in Kannada, 2 songs in Malayam, 2 songs in Magadh and one song in Maithali language.

"You listen to my songs. I listen only to Manna Dey's songs.”
– Late singer Mohammad Rafi on Manna Dey.

“Busy day...not without remembering Manna Dey with minute silence on set...voice gone...winds of sonorous lilting words left behind!”
– Indian Actor Amitabh Bacchan's twitter post on Manna Dey.

“As his voice scaled the giddy peak, it was as if an electric current had pierced the audience. They clapped until their palms ached. I had goose bumps... Such incredible power at the age of 80?”
– Rinki Roy Bhattacharya, daughter of acclaimed filmmaker Bimal Roy, on her reaction at Dey's live performance at a concert.

Star Picks
Five favourite Manna Dey numbers
1. Coffee House'r Adda
2. Pyaar Hua Ikrar Hua (film: Shree 420)
3. Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli (film: Anand)
4. Laaga Chunri Mein Daag (Dil Hi Toh Hai)
5. Ek Chatur Nar (film: Padosan)

"Whenever I sang a song with Lata (Mangeshkar) in her heydays, I used to forget my lines. I used to marvel at her expertise. How could she sing like that! Asha (Bhonsle) – what a versatile singer, what a great singer she is! I have the greatest regard for my compatriots of yesteryears.

I could definitely be a better singer that what I am.

In my youth when I ran around creating mischief with my friends from Simlepara, boxing or wrestling in akharas – there was no desire in any corner of my mind to be a singer.

Mostly I was chosen to sing songs others didn't sing."
— Manna Dey